British Prime Minister Suspects Terrorism In London Attack

3 years ago

In what the BBC is calling a “terror attack,” one man was killed and two others shot by armed police in an incident in Woolwich on Wednesday afternoon. According to the local MP, Nick Raynsford, the victim was an off-duty soldier from the nearby army barracks—as well as a local primary schoolteacher.

Two men, who are suspected to be Islamic extremists, attacked the soldier, reportedly wearing a “Help for Heroes” T-shirt, just after 2 p.m. in Woolwich, in southeast London, with machetes. The suspects allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” before the attack, witnesses told the BBC. The attack also reportedly continued long after the victim was killed, and some witnesses said they saw the body being dragged.

According to a Scotland Yard spokesman, police were called to reports of an assault at 2:20 on Wednesday afternoon. “One man was being assaulted by two other men,” said Commander Simon Letchford. “A number of weapons were reportedly being used in the attack, and this included reports of a firearm.”

Early eyewitness reports indicated the victim was hit by a car, although that has not been confirmed, before coming after the victim with meat cleavers. One local resident, Julia Wilders, told the Press Association she had seen the victim lying on the ground. "We were driving back and my husband said to me, 'Don't look, they're resuscitating someone.' But apparently they were stabbing him.